By Jack Malley, Cronkite PR Lab
Pat Tillman.
The name is known by millions worldwide and revered in the state of Arizona for many different reasons - generational talent on the football field; a dedicated, loving family member and friend; a patriot who allowed nothing to stand between him and his love for the United States of America. No matter how one became acquainted with the name and the man, the legacy he created grows stronger with every year and with every person who learns his story. Once again, this year Pat’s Run will further bolster that enduring legacy.
It has been 19 years since Tillman was accidentally killed in a tragic accident while serving in Afghanistan. Stereotypically, current students at a university as large and formidable as Arizona State are not very familiar with or overly concerned with former alumni. However, this is not the case when it comes to Pat Tillman and the legacy he left behind at ASU.
If a random individual was to walk onto campus and ask students if they knew who Tillman was and what he stood for, the overwhelming majority of Sun Devils will proudly tell you that they are very familiar with Tillman and his story. Multiple statues and murals of Tillman on the ASU campuses stand as a testament, and all students are told Pat’s story after arriving on campus for freshman orientation. His number, 42, is displayed on almost every jersey sold in the bookstore and is one of five ASU football numbers that have been retired.
“I’ve had a poster of Pat on the wall in my apartment for the past three years now,” says Ty Cantelo, a senior who considers himself an avid ASU sports fan. “Whenever people from out of town come over, they always ask me about the poster and I’m proud to tell them his story. He’s truly the definition of an honorable man.”
After his death in April 2004, Tillman’s family and friends started the Pat Tillman Foundation, which supports the education and leadership development of veterans and military spouses through its Tillman Scholars program. As a way to honor Pat and his love for athletics, the foundation decided to host their first fundraiser in 2005: Pat’s Run.
The 4.2-mile run took place right in the heart of Tempe, with runners traveling through the bustling streets of downtown and along the banks of Tempe Town Lake before finally crossing the finish line, which conveniently happened to be the 42 yard-line inside Sun Devil Stadium. All of the proceeds from the event were donated to the Tillman Foundation.
The inaugural run received amazing feedback from the estimated 5,000 participants, and plans were made to continue the run in future years. Soon after the success of the first race in Tempe, members of the Arizona State Alumni Association started reaching out to the Tillman Foundation asking if they could host their own version of the event in their hometowns. And so the “honor runs”, smaller versions of Pat’s Run that take place in different cities around the country, were born. According to the Pat Tillman Foundation website, 33 different cities will be hosting an honor run sometime during April 2023, ranging from ASU alumni hotspots like Austin, Texas, or Las Vegas, Nevada, to smaller towns such as Mountain Home, Idaho, and Pinetop, Arizona.
“This is the 15th year of Tillman Honor Runs,” says Patricia Thiele-Keating, an assistant vice president of the Alumni Association who has helped coordinate the honor runs throughout the years. “It’s been wonderful being able to engage with people who may not necessarily be ASU alumni, but they heard Pat’s story and were inspired by him to take action. Those are the moments that I love. Everyone participates for a different reason and I think that’s really unique.”
Over 2,000 miles away in Charleston, South Carolina, Stacy Abbittista is one of the volunteers responsible for organizing the city’s version of the run, which just so happens to be one of the most popular honor runs, with an estimated 300 participants lacing up their running shoes. Before COVID-19, the numbers regularly topped 600 runners.
“Something fun that we do every year is invite a Guest of Honor to give a speech before the opening ceremonies,” Abbattista said. “This year we are lucky enough to have a World War II veteran speaking and his story is fascinating. I’m very excited for this year’s run.”
Abbattista also spoke about Charleston’s “Pints for Pat” party, where everyone who participated in the race is invited out for drinks at a local restaurant and money continues to be raised long into the night.
“It just makes logical sense to do both events together,” Abbattista says while laughing heartily. “Why not just flow the race into an early party afterward and continue to raise some money? It’s a win-win for everyone.”
According to Thiele-Keating, the Tillman Foundation is hoping for a complete sellout at the race in Tempe on April 15, with a crowd of well over 25,000 expected to descend on Tempe early this coming Saturday. NFL legend JJ Watt will be in attendance and help kick off the start of the race. Road closures and major delays are expected in the Tempe area. Drivers are being asked to plan accordingly. Fittingly, at the conclusion of Pat’s Run, the Sun Devil Spring Football game will commence.
Inspired by Pat’s legacy and looking to organize your own version of Pat’s Run in your hometown? First, check to see if there is already an established Arizona State Alumni Association in your area. If yes, there most likely will already be a run near you. If not, please contact the Alumni Association and begin the process of establishing an Alumni Association branch in your hometown. After a satellite association is established, a run can officially be organized with the Pat Tillman Foundation. \
If you are unable to make it to one of the race locations but still want to take part in the fun, there is also a “virtual run” option online. Simply run the 4.2 miles on your own and upload them here.